Electrolytic apparatus.



A. HERRMANN ELECTROLYTIC APPARATUS. APPLIUATION EILBD APR. 23, 1914.

Patented Nov; 3, 1914.

A. HERRMANN. I ELECTROLYTIC APPARATUS. APPLICATION FI LIID APR. 23, 1914.

Patented Nov. 3, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ABTUR HERBMANN, or Lnrrzro oontrs; GE MANY. i

4 ELECTROLYTIC APPARATUS- Specification of Letters Patent? l Patented NOV. 3, 1914:.

Application filed April 23, 1914. Serial at. 333,974.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTUR HERRMANN,

a citizen of the German Empire, residing at Leipzig-Gohlis, Germany, have invented 5 certain new and useful Improvements in Electrolytic Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electrolytic apparatus, and it comprises an electrolytic apparatus comprising a rotating wheel or trolley electrode having a grooved periphery .w1th a centered comparatively narrow ring of conducting material with non-conducting material on each side; such electrode ad-- vantageously consisting of a central grooved wheel. of metal and an inclosing wheel of insulatingv material composed of two guide disks making a tight joint with the rim edges of said metal wheel and extending radially therebeyond; all as more fully hereinafter set forth and as claimed.

In electrolytic processes of treating metal wares, such as wire and sheets, as moving I bodies, continuously or in long lengths,

Whether the material be an anode, as in electrolytic cleansing and pickling methods,

or a cathode, as in galvanizing and plating,

it is ordinarily desirable to have electric' connections therewith at intermediate points along its length; at points where it is immersed in the electrolyte. Such connections may-be made by various forms of rolling or sliding contacts but in practice the devices heretofore used have all been open to the serious objection that the wetted and electrically active surface was much more than was necessary to make the connection. In -pickling processes this leads to corrosion 40 or undue wear of the electrode; and in platmgca onthe contact device and to a waste ful consumption of current. Many efiorts havebeen made to obviate this with the use of stationary insulating diaphragms or shields or, of insulating varnishes, but neither has proved practical. T-he dia phragms or shields take up too much room and. render the operation com heated; and are besides, and especially w en near the wire, apt to be broken OD'dIljllIGd. Varnishes and' aints are always porous; and may allow evelopment of growths of crystalline metal with shortcircuits, arcing, in-

ter'ference with movement, etc Diaphragms 56 or'shields'in practice must usually be mounted-'with metal screws, rivets, etc., which rocesses it leads to a deposition of =mu st be varnished or painted. And wit i the usualdevices the current conducting surface is usually greater than is requiredfor that purpose since otherwise the wire? would work off.

In the present invention the electrode'is diameter. -The inner faces of these .disks are slightly sloped to give an outwardly widenlng spao therebetween, radially beyond the perip ieral face of the conductor wheel proper. These side disks are notched somewhat to accommodate the rim 'of such wheel and make a fluid tight joint therewith. The space is just wide enough to accommodate the wire. At the periphery, the space widens somewhat to form a groove capable of'taking irregularities, joints, etc., of the wire. I

With this arrangement the wire runs smoothly, and much current cannot flow be tween the conductor and the solution.

In the accompanying illustration I have shown, more or less diagrammatically, certain embodiments of the present invention;

In this showing,

Figure 1 is a side view of an eledtrode according to the present invention; Fig. 2, 1s a vertical transverse section along line 22 of Fig. 1; Figs. 3 and 4 are correspond- 1ng showings of a somewhat-modified form; Fig. 5 is a plan view ofthe galvanizing or pickling bath provided with electrodes according to the present invention; Fig. 6 1s a longitudinal central vertical section along line 6-6 of Fig. 5; and Fig. 7 is a view of a connection between lengths -of wire.

In the showing of Figs. 1 and 2, the electrode proper is a wheel 1 of acid proof bronze or other suitable material. It may be made up of spokes 2 and rim 3. This rim is grooved and but little wider than the w re or other article to be treated. Uponthe jhublt are mounted wire guiding and holding means such as two uide disks or wheels and 6'. As shown, these disks are recessed at 7 to accommodate the rim of the wheel with and with which they whichj-"tli'ey 1 even st y watertight joint; the

make a su antia wheel-andfthe disks thu'shave complemen-' tary parts sothat the disks cover all of the wheel except the groove' for a wire. I As shown, these disks extendoutwardly some little distance'beyond the\ rim of the conductor wheel and are spaced apart, so as to form channel 8, ,this channel widening slightly outward. The peripheral surface of the two disks is cut away to form fiat groove 9. The space between the disks is so narrow that the metal ware under treatment just goes through it freely.

In qrder to allow joints and. the like to run over the electrode without interruption," the relation of the diameter of the conductor wheel proper to that of the side disks is such that the circumference of the side disks cuts the direction of the wire at such an angle that even in the event of occurrence of crooks and points, as, for instance, at joints, rotation of the device still continues without great consumption of power, the joints, etc., being lifted out of the guide space. Wheel 1 may yoke shown in twoparts,'11 and 11*, connected at 12 and makingconnection with conductor 13 which may be of'copper and shown as mounted on angle iron 14. 11 is rigid and 11 movable. This structure provides a ready means of disassembling the structure. The guide disks may be provided with hooks or'lugs 15 engaging the spokes on the wheel proper. Assumlng that in normal position, the Wheel is running clockwise, on separating the yokeand turning the disks counter-clockwise the hooks no longer engage the spokes and the wheel structure readily comes apart. With this structure no metal parts of-the wheel other than the wire-carrying periphery come into contact with the solution and dismounting requires.

no tools. Bronze rings 16 maybe provided on thehub to insure centerin of the guide rolls. As shownin Fig. 4 '0 ese rings 16 may be broad enough to cover the inner or perforated side of the guide disks and hold them on the hub of the conductor wheel without further fastening. In the structure of Figs. 3 and', an additional joint 17 is used which allows the'yoke tomove upward in case of an unusually diificult joint going past the conductor. In normal operation its weight holds it in the position shown. 1 In the illustration the yoke is shown secured in place by screw 18. This'is useful when it ii desired to move the conductor from the In Figs. 5 and 6, 19'is the usual bath tub or tank for holding the electrolyte. It is.

shown provided with current conductors 20 carrying the usual conducting rolls 21. Non-conductive rolls 22 guide wire'23. In this structure, which is shown as a alvanizing bath, 2424 are anodes secure in electrodes 25 connected to cross conductors 26. Non-conductive guide rolls 27 are provided have a hub 10 mounted ina in the vicinity of the conductive devices of poses. In its use, the formation of a precipitate in the electrolytic bath or deposition of any material amounts of metal on the conductor is almost completely prevented,

even under the most unfavorable conditions, fas when no wirepasses through the bath." Further, it accomplishes an economy "in operation since the usual frequent changing of the rolls are avoided as well 1 p ,as interruption in operation. Injury to'the" and cleaning coating upon the wire by sparking 'is almost completely avoided inasmuch as interruption of the current and sparking only occur when the joints pass the conductor, and this passage is at a point where arcing and sparking cannot readily occur. Damage to the guide rolls .5 and 6' is practically excluded by their form. f

A further great advantage of this strucamount of deposition in'a given time a ma terially higherv speed of passage of the'wire is possible; Or conversely, with a given amount of metal deposition the necessary length of the apparatus'may be materially shortened. 1 In Fig. 7 are shown two wires as connected with the usual loops 28 and 29; this showing being merely to'illustrate with what the apparatus must cope. I

WhatIclaimis:-- w

1. In an electrolytic apparatus, a contact wheel. having a narrow conductive grooved periphery with lateral continuations of nonconductive material.

'2. In an electrolytic apparatus," a contact.

wheel having laterally secured disks *of. insulating materials of greater diameter than said wheel.

3. In an electrolytic apparatus, a contact wheel having laterally secured. disks of in-' sulating materials of greater diameter than said wheel, the space between said disks be yond said periphery narrowing radially inward. g

fl. In an electrolytic apparatus, a contact wheel having a narrow conductive'rim and having sides of non-conductive material, said sides extending over the edge of said I'llIl.

5. In a electrolytic apparatus, 'a contact wheel havin a disk of non-conducting material engaging fture resides the fact that it allows with I ithe' usual voltage in the bath a considerably higher current density so that with a similar spokes and a'narrow conduc-" .tive rim, s1 e-dlsks of non-conductivematerial and hook-connections for saidldls ks.

cel held in said yoke,

their outer face.

- ing said disks to said wheel. e

8. In an electrolytic apparatus, a contact device comprising a narrow rimmed condu'ctor wheel and side disks of non-conductive material on each side of said wheel, said disks extending radially beyond said wheel with a wire receiving space therebetween:

and having a shallow continuing groove on 9. In an electrolytic apparatus, a contact device comprisinga narrow rimmed conductor wheel, a pair of side disks of insulating material covering the sides of said wheel,

means'for removably securing the disks to .thewheel, a yoke f orminga bearing for said parts where wheel and having one arm swingably mounted with regard to the other arm to permit removal of the wheel and means for attaching said yoke to a conductor bar.

10. In an electrolytic apparatus a contact wheel, andwire guidin and holding means 7 of insulating material or the wheel extend-.

ing radially beyond and in the periphery thereof.

part overlapping '11. In an electrolytic apparatus a contact wheel and separable insulating Jvire idin and holding means therefor, the sai whee and holdin means havin complementary b id y the wire ho ing means may completely inclose the wheel sides.

In testimony, that I claim'the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name m 40 i 8 7 presence of two subscribing'witnesses.

Witnesses:

= JAG. FRANKE, I

I-In'mmorr HEDMAN-N.

ARTUR HERRMANN 

